Over 300 IS militants killed in airstrikes in western Iraq

Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-18 01:26:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video PlayerClose

BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi aircraft conducted dozens of airstrikes against targets of Islamic State (IS) militants in western Iraq, leaving many of their posts destroyed and killing some 306 extremist militants, the Iraqi military said on Sunday.

The jet fighters carried out 42 airstrikes based on intelligence reports during the period from Sept. 11 to 16, against IS headquarters and hideouts in the areas of Akashat, Aana, al-Qaim in Iraq's Anbar province, while six of the total airstrikes targeted IS posts in Mayadeen area in eastern Syria, the intelligence media office said in a statement.

In one area, the airstrikes bombarded 29 IS targets in Akashat area, leaving some 120 IS militants killed, including four terrorist leaders, the statement said.

The jet fighters also hit six targets in Mayadeen area, leaving dozens of IS militants killed and destroying three booby-trapped vehicles, the statement said.

Earlier, the Iraqi security forces dislodged IS militants from the key cities of Anbar province, including Ramadi and the nearby Fallujah, but the areas near the border with neighboring Syria, including Aana, Rawa and al-Qaim as well as the vast rural areas across the province are still under the control of the extremist IS militants.